Sam
Alexis and I finished our circuit of one side of the ship, keeping our eyes trained on the dark ocean below us. We waited at the forward deck for Sophie and Jacques, who were searching the port side. Alexis walked back to the railing and looked over. I joined her.
“I still can’t believe Nick is a woman,” she said.
“It’s true,” I said for the third time. I’d already told everybody what had happened, and my uncle had gone with Rose’s grandparents to report all of it to the cruise director. I gripped the railing with both hands and peered out toward the town. The lights of Dubrovnik spread a sparkling golden net across the water. But even with that illumination, we hadn’t seen anybody. If Nicky and Clio had actually thrown Rose overboard, she’d swim for shore, wouldn’t she?
A clawing sensation in my gut almost doubled me over. We needed to take one of the tenders out and search the bay. Thank God our ship was still at anchor. I’d probably be going ballistic if we were sailing away.
“It’s all so weird,” Alexis said.
“Yup.”
“I’m starting to think Nick was yanking your chain.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, only half listening.
“He, I mean she, seems like a trickster. I bet she never planned to toss Rose in the water. I bet Rose is tied up somewhere.”
Hope filled the empty cavern in my chest. I faced Alexis. “You think?”
“Yeah. The question is, where?”
“There are about a million possibilities,” I said, letting out a frustrated sigh.
Sophie and Jacques walked up behind us. “Anything?” Alexis asked.
Jacques shook his head just as Sophie said, “No.”
“Okay,” Alexis said, “let’s go back to the table to see if there’s any news.”
We followed her to mid-deck where Cynthia was waiting for us. Alexis shook her head. “No luck.”
Cynthia started to speak, but Uncle David strode up to the table, snatched his cocktail, and downed what was left of it. Rose’s grandparents trailed a few steps behind. “The cruise director has sent someone to look for your tour guide,” he said. “He was less convinced that a full search for Rose should be conducted right now, trying to pass it off as a teenage girl game.”
Mrs. Mulligan let out a laugh of disbelief. “He obviously doesn’t know Rose.”
“And he’s conveniently forgetting that I was tied up,” I said, wishing I could put a fist in the man’s face.
Uncle David settled a hand on my shoulder. “I think it has more to do with the fact that most of the available staff are busy with this huge buffet dinner. He doesn’t have the manpower for a search, but he’s not willing to admit it.”
I dropped into a seat at the table but immediately got up again. We were going to have to find her ourselves.
“Mr. Briggs?” A young man in a white uniform appeared, looking from my uncle to Rose’s grandfather.
“That would be me,” Uncle David said.
The guy’s face radiated calm, but he kept clenching and unclenching one fist. “We’ve just learned that the crew member you were asking about is gone. A family emergency. According to the computer records, she and her nephew left the ship ten minutes ago.”
“A fake nephew,” I said. “He’s a woman.”
The man looked confused.
“But how?” Mr. Mulligan asked. “The tenders have already been brought on board.”
“Private transport, I believe,” the young man said.
Uncle David folded his arms across his chest. “Have you reported this to the cruise director?”
The crew member nodded. “He went to notify the local port authority that both are wanted for questioning.”
“That’s something, at least,” Mrs. Mulligan said.
“We still need to find Rose,” Alexis muttered, but everybody heard.
“Yes, we do,” Uncle David said. He turned to the crew member. “Is anyone conducting a search?”
The guy swallowed visibly. “They are in the process of organizing a search.”
“Which means they aren’t doing anything yet,” Uncle David said.
“I’m certain, sir, that everything—”
My uncle held up a palm. “Take me to the cruise director, please.”
“But—”
Uncle David gave him a stern look, and the crew member straightened. “Just this way, sir.” They walked to the stairway that led to the lower decks.
Alexis stuck her hands on her hips in her typical taking charge position. “We’re thinking that the text message about Rose going for a swim was an empty threat. Rose must be locked up somewhere.”
“I imagine you’re right,” Rose’s grandfather said.
“She’s probably in the crew-only section,” Sophie said.
I felt like I was about to burst out of my skin. I clenched my jaw to keep from screaming. “But we can’t get in there.”
“Then we should find someone who can,” Alexis said.
A message tone rang out, and everybody checked their phones. Mrs. Mulligan let out a gasp. “I have a voicemail from Rose.”
How could that be possible? Nicky took Rose’s cell. We waited while Rose’s grandmother held her phone up to her ear. After a few seconds, she frowned and turned it off. “It was a message from earlier saying she was on her way to the infirmary.”
“Well, blast,” Mr. Mulligan said. “I was hoping that would solve the problem.”
Me too. I tried to steady my breathing.
Mrs. Mulligan placed a hand on her husband’s arm. “What about Darl? We can ask him to take us into the crew-only section.”
“Good idea,” he replied.
Sophie stepped near them. “Would you like us to come with you?” she asked, indicating Jacques, who was sticking to her like she was his lifeline. For once, I could totally relate. If I had Rose with me, I’d be doing the same thing.
Rose’s grandfather nodded. “Absolutely.”
They headed off, and I was about to follow when Alexis grabbed my arm. “Wait, we shouldn’t all go to the same place. Sophie,” she called, “do you have cell service? Mine keeps going in and out.”
Sophie checked her phone. “No, but Jacques does.”
“Right,” Alexis said. “If anyone discovers important info, text everybody. That way one of us should get it.”
The other group left. I didn’t even have a phone anymore. “Where do you want to look?” I asked Alexis.
She frowned. “Let’s think for a minute. If you were Clio and Nick/Nicky, you would’ve wanted to leave fast, right?”
“Yeah.”
“And it wouldn’t help to be pulling a teenage girl through the hallways until they got to a good hiding place.”
A thrum built in my chest. “You think they locked her up someplace near the infirmary?”
“It’s what I would’ve done. You know, if I was embarking on a life of crime.”
“Don’t joke. So not the time.”
Alexis took me by the shoulders and gave me a hard shake. “It’s exactly the time. Sam,” she said more softly, “she’s going to be all right.”
There was no way she could know that for sure. I swallowed hard. “Let’s go.”
“But where?” Cynthia asked.
I almost jumped. I’d forgotten she was sitting there. Alexis and I looked at each other but didn’t say anything.
Cynthia shook her head impatiently, making her hair swing back and forth. “What other public rooms are there by the infirmary? I know there are mostly staterooms on that level, but surely they wouldn’t put her—”
“The spa!” Alexis said, her face lighting up.
Cynthia stood. “I saw one of the spa attendants helping out with the buffet earlier. I’ll get her. Or someone else who might have a key.”
That was smart. “Thanks,” I said and headed for the stairs.
“We’ll meet you down there,” Alexis called from right behind me.